Method and system for sequencing veneer to lumbercore

ABSTRACT

A method for sequencing veneer to lumbercore includes receiving a veneer grain width input and a veneer thickness input, determining a cut angle based on the veneer grain width input and the veneer thickness input, receiving a lumbercore width input and a lumbercore height input, determining a set of dimensions for a stack of lumber, and generating a template mapping the lumbercore to the stack of lumber, where the template is based on the lumbercore width input, the lumbercore height input, and the set of dimensions for the stack of lumber, where the lumbercore is rotated within the template at an angle relative to horizontal within the stack of lumber by an amount equal to the cut angle.

BACKGROUND

Consumers in the aviation or automotive industry may require matchingveneer in sheet and lumbercore form across a purchased lineup or fleetof vehicles (e.g., airplanes, automobiles, or like). Veneer, however,may be dependent on the lumber, which may be different even ifmanufactured from the same species. Due to the varieties of color, grainwidth, and grain pattern, matching veneer in sheet and lumbercore formmay be difficult.

SUMMARY

A method for sequencing lumbercore from veneer is disclosed, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The methodmay include, but is not limited to, receiving a veneer grain width inputand a veneer thickness input. The method may include, but is not limitedto, determining a cut angle based on the veneer grain width input andthe veneer thickness input. The method may include, but is not limitedto, receiving a lumbercore width input and a lumbercore height input.The method may include, but is not limited to, determining a set ofdimensions for a stack of lumber. The method may include, but is notlimited to, generating a template mapping the lumbercore to the stack.The template is based on the lumbercore width input, the lumbercoreheight input, and the set of dimensions for the stack of lumber. Thetemplate includes the cut angle. The lumbercore is rotated relative tohorizontal at the cut angle within the stack of lumber.

In some embodiments, the method may include, but is not limited to,obtaining a plurality of sheets of veneer. The method may include, butis not limited to, obtaining a reference sheet of veneer. The method mayinclude, but is not limited to, generating the stack of lumber from theplurality of sheets of veneer.

In some embodiments, the set of dimensions for the stack of lumberincluding a stack width, a stack height, and a number of sheets ofveneer for the plurality of sheets of veneer. The plurality of sheets ofveneer each has a select thickness.

In some embodiments, the select thickness of a sheet of veneer withinthe plurality of sheets of veneer is approximately equal to a thicknessof the reference sheet of veneer.

In some embodiments, the dimensions of the lumbercore being definedwithin the set of dimensions of the stack of lumber, with the lumbercorewidth input being less than the stack width of the stack of lumber andthe lumbercore height input being less than the stack height of thestack of lumber.

In some embodiments, the generating the stack of lumber from theplurality of sheets of veneer may include, but is not limited to,sequencing the plurality of sheets of veneer. The generating the stackof lumber from the plurality of sheets of veneer may include, but is notlimited to, applying an adhesive between adjacent sheets of theplurality of sheets of veneer.

In some embodiments, the adhesive includes a clear epoxy resin.

In some embodiments, the generating the stack of lumber from theplurality of sheets of veneer may include, but is not limited to,firetreating the plurality of sheets of veneer prior to applying theadhesive between the adjacent sheets of the plurality of sheets ofveneer.

In some embodiments, the method may include, but is not limited to,applying the template to the stack of lumber. The method may include,but is not limited to, cutting the lumbercore from the stack of lumberat the cut angle included in the template.

In some embodiments, the template being applied to an end surface of thestack of lumber.

In some embodiments, the template further including an inside blockrepresenting the lumbercore, the inside block rotated relative tohorizontal an amount equal to the cut angle within an outside block, theoutside block representing the stack of lumber.

In some embodiments, the lumbercore including a portion of the pluralityof sheets of veneer after the lumbercore is cut from the stack oflumber, the portion of the plurality of sheets of veneer being setrelative to horizontal at the cut angle through the end surface of thelumbercore.

In some embodiments, the reference sheet of veneer and a top surface ofthe lumbercore having at least one of a matching color, grain width, orgrain pattern.

In some embodiments, the top surface of the lumbercore including aplurality of edges of the portion of the plurality of sheets of veneer,at least one of the matching color, grain width, or grain pattern beingvisible across the plurality of edges of the plurality of sheets ofveneer after the lumbercore is cut from the stack of lumber.

A lumbercore sequenced from veneer is disclosed, in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the disclosure. The lumbercore includes a portionof a plurality of sheets of veneer with an adhesive applied betweenadjacent sheets of the portion of the plurality of sheets of veneer. Theportion of the plurality of sheets of veneer is rotated relative tohorizontal at a cut angle through a cross-section of the lumbercore. Thecut angle is determined from a veneer grain width and a veneerthickness. The plurality of sheets of veneer are cut from a stack oflumber at the cut angle based on a template including the cut angle, thetemplate based on a lumbercore width, a lumbercore height, and a set ofdimensions for the stack of lumber. The set of dimensions for the stackof lumber includes a stack width, a stack height, and a number of sheetsof veneer for the plurality of sheets of veneer.

This Summary is provided solely as an introduction to subject matterthat is fully described in the Detailed Description and Drawings. TheSummary should not be considered to describe essential features nor beused to determine the scope of the Claims. Moreover, it is to beunderstood that both the foregoing Summary and the following DetailedDescription are examples and explanatory only and are not necessarilyrestrictive of the subject matter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances inthe description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items.Various embodiments or examples (“examples”) of the disclosure aredisclosed in the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. In general,operations of disclosed processes may be performed in an arbitraryorder, unless otherwise provided in the claims. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for sequencing veneer tolumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for sequencing veneer tolumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example set of data used for sequencing veneer tolumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3B illustrates a graph including an example set of data used forsequencing veneer to lumbercore, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example graphic comparing input data and outputdata for sequencing veneer to lumbercore, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a template generated via a method for sequencingveneer to lumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for sequencing veneer tolumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure;

FIG. 7A illustrates veneer and lumbercore generated from a method forsequencing veneer to lumbercore, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 7B illustrates veneer and lumbercore generated from a method forsequencing veneer to lumbercore, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 7C illustrates veneer and lumbercore generated from a method forsequencing veneer to lumbercore, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a system for sequencing veneer to lumbercore, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed,which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Before explaining one or more embodiments of the disclosure in detail,it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in theirapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents or steps or methodologies set forth in the followingdescription or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detaileddescription of embodiments, numerous specific details may be set forthin order to provide a more thorough understanding of the disclosure.However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefit of the instant disclosure that the embodiments disclosedherein may be practiced without some of these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoidunnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure.

As used herein a letter following a reference numeral is intended toreference an embodiment of the feature or element that may be similar,but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element orfeature bearing the same reference numeral (e.g., 1, 1 a, 1 b). Suchshorthand notations are used for purposes of convenience only and shouldnot be construed to limit the disclosure in any way unless expresslystated to the contrary.

Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to aninclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or Bis satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B isfalse (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (orpresent), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of “a” or “an” may be employed to describe elements andcomponents of embodiments disclosed herein. This is done merely forconvenience and “a” and “an” are intended to include “one” or “at leastone,” and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obviousthat it is meant otherwise.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “someembodiments” means that a particular element, feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment disclosed herein. The appearances of thephrase “in some embodiments” in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, and embodimentsmay include one or more of the features expressly described orinherently present herein, or any combination of sub-combination of twoor more such features, along with any other features which may notnecessarily be expressly described or inherently present in the instantdisclosure.

FIGS. 1-8 generally illustrate a method and system for sequencing veneerto lumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

With natural veneer, lumber may be cut from trees of the same species.However, the trees may be located in numerous places around the world,which may result in variances of color, grain width, and/or grainpattern within the lumber. With composite veneer, a tree may be brokendown and meshed into a block with the addition of color. Compositeveneer, while more likely to match across different sources than naturalveneer, may be cost-prohibitive in terms of long lead time and/or thesize of the bulk order that may be required.

As such, it would be beneficial to provide a method and system forsequencing veneer to lumbercore that fabricates lumbercore from naturalveneer while matching color, grain pattern, and grain width. Thefabricated lumbercore may address or offset the possibility of varianceswithin the natural veneer. The fabricated lumbercore may be cut tocustom size in a more cost-effective manner than the compositelumbercore.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 100 for sequencing veneerto lumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

In a step 102, sheets of veneer may be obtained. The sheets of veneermay include a select color, grain width, and/or grain pattern. Thesheets of veneer may be obtained from the same batch of lumber. It isnoted herein, however, that the sheets of veneer may be obtained fromdifferent sources.

In a step 104, a reference sheet of veneer may be obtained. Thereference sheet of veneer (e.g., a sheet of veneer 700, as illustratedin FIGS. 7A-7C) may include a select color, grain width, and/or grainpattern. The sheets of veneer and the reference sheet of veneer may beobtained from the same batch of lumber. It is noted herein, however,that the sheets of veneer and the reference sheet of veneer may beobtained from different sources. For example, the reference sheet ofveneer may be obtained from a person needing a lumbercore with matchingcolor, grain width, and/or grain pattern to be fabricated from thesheets of veneer. By way of another example, the reference sheet ofveneer may be a sample previously installed within a vehicle (e.g., anairplane, automobile, or the like) with a color, grain width, and/orgrain pattern to be matched in lumbercore fabricated from the sheets ofveneer.

In a step 106, a stack of lumber may be generated from the sheets ofveneer. Generating the stack of lumber may require one or more steps108, 110, 112. It is noted herein, however, that the step 106 is notlimited to the steps provided. In addition, the step 106 may includemore or fewer steps. Further, the step 106 may include performing thesteps 108, 110, 112 in an order other than provided. Therefore, thedescription should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope ofthe disclosure but merely an illustration.

In an optional step 108, the sheets of veneer may be firetreated. Eachsheet of veneer may be firetreated separately prior to being used togenerate the stack of lumber. The sheets of veneer may be firetreatedindividually, in batches, or in bulk prior to being used to generate thestack of lumber.

In a step 110, the sheets of veneer may be stacked. Stacking the sheetsof veneer may include sequencing the sheets of veneer based on theoriginal location of each sheet of veneer in the processed tree, suchthat a pattern may be replicated by being overlapped multiple times. Itis noted herein, however, that the sheets of veneer may be stacked inany order (e.g., without regard to the original location in theprocessed tree from which the sheets of veneer were obtained.

In a step 112, an adhesive may be applied between the sheets of veneer.The adhesive may be applied between each set of adjacent sheets ofveneer within the sequence or stack. The adhesive may include, but isnot limited to, an epoxy resin, wood glue, or other adhesive suitablefor use with wood. For example, the epoxy resin may include a clearepoxy resin that is not visible in the stack of lumber once dry. Forinstance, the use of an epoxy resin may allow for the color of thesheets of veneer to be replicated throughout the stack of lumber,without concerned of unwanted color (e.g., a white or yellow layer). Byway of another example, the epoxy resin may be a two-part epoxy resin.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 200 for sequencing veneerto lumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

In a step 202, a grain width input and a veneer thickness input may bereceived. In a step 204, a cut angle may be output. The cut angle may beoutput based on a stored set of data correlating the grain width inputand the veneer thickness input to a particular cut angle. The cut anglemay be determined from the input grain width and veneer thickness beingrun through an algorithm defined in part from example test data. Exampletest data is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, the data in a table 300 includes cut angle indegrees and radians, an input grain width (in inches), an inputthickness (in inches), and a hypotenuse length (in inches). Referringnow to FIG. 3B, the data in the table 300 is displayed in a graph 310 asa function of grain width (in inches) versus angle (in degrees). Thedata presented in the table 300 and illustrated in the graph 310 providea correlation between the output cut angle and the input grain width.Specifically, a smaller grain width may require a larger cut angle.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it is noted herein an adjusted veneerthickness may be determined and/or output in addition to or instead ofthe cut angle. The adjusted veneer thickness may be output based on astored set of data correlating the grain width input and the veneerthickness input to a particular adjusted veneer thickness. The adjustedveneer thickness may be determined from the input grain width and veneerthickness being run through an algorithm defined in part from exampletest data.

In a step 206, a width input and a height input for an inside block maybe received. The inside block may represent the lumbercore cut from theoutside block at the determined cut angle. In this regard, the terms“inside block” and “lumbercore” may be considered equivalent, forpurposes of the disclosure.

In a step 208, dimensions for the outside block may be output. Thedimensions may be determined from the inside block width, the insideblock height, and the cut angle based on a stored set of datacorrelating the inside block width, the inside block height, and the cutangle to a particular set of dimensions. The dimensions may be outputfollowing the inside block width, the inside block height, and the cutangle being run through an algorithm. The outside block may representthe stack of lumber fabricated using the method 100. In this regard, theterms “outside block” and “stack of lumber” may be consideredequivalent, for purposes of the present disclosure. The inside block 402may be cut from the outside block 410 at the cut angle 408.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example graphic 400 comparing an inside block 402including an inside block width 404 and an inside block height 406, acut angle 408, and an outside block 410 including an outside block width412 and an outside block height 414, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure.

From the inside block width 404 and the inside block height 406 of theinside block 402, as well as the cut angle 408, the outside block 410including the outside block width 412 and the outside block height 414may be determined. The outside block width 412 and the outside blockheight 414 may be separated into sections defining the areas of theoutside block 410 to be removed when cutting out the inside block 402.

The outside block 410 may be defined by a number of veneer sheetsrequired, based on a veneer sheet thickness. The veneer sheet thickness,like the cut angle 408, may be of particular importance to amanufacturer. For example, ensuring a veneer sheet thickness for thesheets of veneer from which the outside block 410/stack of lumber isfabricated is approximately equal to a thickness of the sheet ofreference veneer may be necessary to match the fabricated inside block402/lumbercore to the reference sheet of veneer.

The inside block width 404, the inside block height 406, the outsideblock width 412, and/or the outside block height 414 may be provided(e.g., displayed on a display device, printed, or the like) in actualdimensions (e.g., in inches, centimeters, or the like) and/or in scaledunitless dimensions. For example, the scaled unitless dimensions may beusable to fabricate a scaled replica of the outside block 410 and thecontained inside block 402.

In one example, where the input grain width is 0.125 inches and theinput veneer thickness is 0.022 inches, the cut angle 408 is 10.137degrees (or 0.177 radians) and the adjusted veneer thickness (orhypotenuse length) is 0.033 inches. In addition, the inside block 402 isdefined by an inside block width 404 of 4.00 inches and an inside blockheight 406 of 1.75 inches. From the inside block width 404, the insideblock height 406, and the cut angle 408, the determined outside blockwidth 412 may be 4.25 inches with a first section 416 of 0.31 inches anda second section 418 of 3.94 inches, and the outside block height 414may be 2.42 inches with a first section 420 of 0.70 inches and a secondsection 422 of 1.72 inches. In terms of scaled unitless dimensions, theinside block width 404 may be 287.77 and the inside block height 406 maybe 125.90, while the outside block width 412 may be 305.44 and theoutside block height 414 may be 174.58. Generating the inside block402/lumbercore with the listed dimensions from the outside block410/stack of lumber may require a stack of lumber formed from 69.33sheets of veneer.

Referring again to FIG. 2, in a step 210, a template for the insideblock 402 may be generated. The template may include the outside block410 and the inside block 402.

FIG. 5 illustrates a template 500 generated via the method 200 forsequencing veneer to lumbercore, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the disclosure.

The template 500 (e.g., a screenprint, a printed image, a laser-etchedimage, a mapped image for an automated fabrication tool, or the like)may include the inside block 402 with inside block width 404 and insideblock height 406. The template 500 may include the outside block 410with outside block width 412 and outside block height 414.

The template 500 may map the inside block 402 within the outside block410. The inside block 402 may be rotated within the outside block 410relative to horizontal (e.g., as defined by an x-axis, as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B) by an amount equal to the cut angle 408. For example,the inside block 402 may be rotated within the outside block 410relative to horizontal about a y-axis, as defined in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Itis noted herein, however, that the inside block 402 may be rotatedwithin the outside block 410 relative to any axis or plane to ensure thecorrect color, grain width, and/or grain pattern of the reference sheetof veneer is matched by the inside block 402/lumbercore.

The template 500 may include one or more instances of the cut angle 408between the inside block 402 and the outside block 410. For example, thetemplate 500 may include multiple instances of the same cut angle 408.It is noted herein, however, that the template 500 may include differentcut angles, depending on what may be necessary to match color, grainwidth, and/or grain pattern. However, it is contemplated that having thecut angles within the template 500 be as similar as possible may resultin the ends of the sheets of veneer in the inside block 402 collectivelydisplay a color, grain width, and/or grain pattern that is the same asthe reference sheet of veneer.

The template 500, when combined with the quantitative values 404, 406,412, 414, and the number of veneer sheets necessary to produce the stackof lumber, may be an instruction about how to fabricate the stack oflumber and at which angle to cut the stack of lumber to replicate thecolor, grain width, and/or grain pattern of the reference sheet ofveneer. For example, the template 500 may include the inside block 402and/or the outside block 410. For instance, the template 500 may includeactual dimensions (e.g., in inches, centimeters, or the like) and/orscaled unitless dimensions for the inside block 402 and/or the outsideblock 410. By way of another example, the template 500 may include thecut angle 408 from which to cut the outside block 410 to produce theinside block 402. By way of another example, the template 500 mayinclude the number of veneer sheets necessary to produce the outsideblock 410/stack of lumber.

The template may be displayed on a display device (e.g., a displaydevice 820, as illustrated in FIG. 8). The template may be printed as animage that may be affixed to a surface of the outside block 410/stack oflumber (e.g., on an end surface of the stack of lumber defined by an x-zplane, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B). The template may be directlyprintable on the outside block 410/stack of lumber (e.g., on the endsurface of the stack of lumber defined by the x-z plane, as illustratedin FIGS. 7A and 7B). The template may be transmitted to a fabricationtool (e.g., a fabrication tool 826, as illustrated in FIG. 8) forcutting the inside block 402/lumbercore from the outside block 410/stackof lumber.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 600 for sequencing veneerto lumbercore, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thedisclosure.

In a step 602, a stack of lumber may be generated from sheets of veneer.The stack of lumber may be generated via one or more steps of the method100.

In a step 604, a template may be applied to the stack of lumber. Thetemplate may be generated via one or more steps of the method 200.

In a step 606, lumbercore may be produced (e.g., cut, sanded, or thelike) from the stack of lumber. The lumbercore may match to the color,grain width, and/or grain pattern of a reference sheet of veneer. In oneexample, the lumbercore may be used as a single piece or as a set ofpieces within an installation, while the reference sheet of veneer maybe used as trim for the installation.

For example, the template 500 may be applied to the stack of lumber(e.g., to the end surface of the stack of lumber defined by an x-zplane, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B). Using the template 500 mayallow for the lumbercore to be cut at the cut angle 408 from the stackof lumber. Where the stack of lumber was formed from adhesive layersbetween sheets of veneer, the stack of lumber may be cut (e.g., at thecut angle 408), sanded, or otherwise processed without revealing theentirety of any particular adhesive layer between adjacent sheets ofveneer in the stack of lumber. More generally, where the stack of lumberwas formed from adhesive layers between sheets of veneer, the stack oflumber may be cut (e.g., at the cut angle 408), sanded, or otherwiseprocessed to avoid or minimize showing of the adhesive layers betweenthe sheets of veneer. It is noted herein that avoiding the adhesivelayer may produce a consistent veneer across a lumbercore. In addition,it is noted herein that avoiding the adhesive layer may result in wearand tear being the same both for the reference sheet of veneer and forthe lumbercore.

In this regard, the methods for sequencing veneer to lumbercorerecreates a color, grain width, and/or grain pattern by manipulating agenerated stack of lumber based on a veneer selected or provided by auser (e.g., a consumer, manufacturer, or other individual involved withthe selection of the veneer being sequenced). The methods may result inthe production of lumbercore with color, grain width, and/or grainpattern that matches the selected or provided veneer, to ensure aconsistent veneer across all applications (e.g., as solid fixturesand/or as trim on non-patterned material (e.g., plastic, wood, or thelike)) within a vehicle (e.g., within an automobile, an airplane, or thelike).

The methods 100, 200, and/or 600 are not limited to the steps and/orsub-steps provided. The methods 100, 200, and/or 600 may include more orfewer steps and/or sub-steps. The methods 100, 200, and/or 600 mayperform the steps and/or sub-steps in an order other than provided.Therefore, the above description should not be interpreted as alimitation on the scope of the disclosure but merely an illustration.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a reference sheet of veneer 700 and lumbercore702 fabricated from the method for sequencing veneer to lumbercore, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the reference sheet of veneer 700 and thelumbercore 702. The lumbercore 702 may be cut from a stack of lumberfabricated via one or more steps of the method 100 based on the template500 generated via one or more steps of the method 200.

The lumbercore 702 may include a portion of the multiple layers 706 ofthe sheets of veneer. The portion of the multiple layers 706 may be setat an angle relative to horizontal through the end surface orcross-section surface (e.g., as defined by an x-z plane) of thelumbercore 702, where the lumbercore 702 is cut from the stack of lumberbased on the template 500 including the cut angle 408. It is notedherein that the edges of the multiple layers 706 may be visible in a topsurface (e.g., as defined by an x-y plane) of the lumbercore 702.

One or more surfaces of the lumbercore 702 and the reference sheet ofveneer 700 may match. For example, the color of the top surface of thelumbercore 702 may match the color of the top surface of the referencesheet of veneer 700 where the adhesive between the multiple layers ofveneer is clear, as provided in the top surface of the lumbercore 702 bythe edges of the layers 706 that show when the lumbercore 702 is cutfrom the stack of lumber. By way of another example, the top surface ofthe reference sheet of veneer 700 and the top surface of the lumbercore702 may include the same grain 704 (e.g., grain width and/or grainpattern) where the stack of lumber is generated be sequencing sheets ofveneer. It is noted herein the lumbercore 702 may have the same veneeron its top and/or down its side as the reference sheet of veneer 700.

FIG. 7C illustrates the reference sheet of veneer 700 and a remnant 708of the stack of lumber following the cutting out of the lumbercore 702based on the template 500. As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the layers 706 ofthe sheets of veneer remnant 708 may be horizontal, matching thelayering of the sheets of veneer when fabricating the stack of lumber.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system 800 for sequencing veneer to lumbercore, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

A set of data 802 may be received by one or more controllers 808 of thesystem 800. The set of data 802 may include a data defining a particularcolor, grain width, grain pattern, and/or veneer thickness of areference sheet of veneer. The set of data 802 may include a width inputand/or a height input for lumbercore to be cut from a stack of lumber.

The set of data 802 may be received from a user 804. For example, theuser 804 may include a consumer, a manufacturer, or other individualinvolved with the selection of the veneer being sequenced. It is notedherein the set of data 802 may be received by the one or morecontrollers 808 either directly or indirectly (e.g., through anintermediary, where the consumer passes the set of data 802 to themanufacturer and the manufacturer uploads the data).

The set of data 802 may be received from a scanning tool 806. Forexample, where the lumbercore needs to match a previously-used and/orinstalled veneer in a vehicle (e.g., airplane, automobile, or the like),the color, grain width, and/or grain pattern may be scanned with ascanning tool 806 to generate the set of data 802.

The one or more controllers 808 may include may include at least one ofone or more processors 810, memory 812 configured to store one or moresets of program instructions 814, and/or one or more communicationinterfaces 816.

The one or more processors 810 provides processing functionality for atleast the one or more controllers 808 and may include any number ofprocessors, micro-controllers, circuitry, field programmable gate array(FPGA) or other processing systems, and resident or external memory forstoring data, executable code, and other information accessed orgenerated by the one or more controllers 808. The one or more processors810 may execute one or more software programs (e.g., the one or moresets of program instructions 814) embodied in a non-transitory computerreadable medium (e.g., the memory 812) that implement techniquesdescribed herein. The one or more processors 810 are not limited by thematerials from which it is formed or the processing mechanisms employedtherein and, as such, may be implemented via semiconductor(s) and/ortransistors (e.g., using electronic integrated circuit (IC) components),and so forth.

The memory 812 may be an example of tangible, computer-readable storagemedium that provides storage functionality to store various data and/orprogram code associated with operation of the one or more controllers808 and/or one or more processors 810, such as software programs and/orcode segments, or other data to instruct the one or more processors 810and/or other components of the one or more controllers 808, to performthe functionality described herein. Thus, the memory 812 may store data,such as a program of instructions for operating the one or morecontrollers 808, including its components (e.g., one or more processors810, the one or more communication interfaces 816, or the like), and soforth. It should be noted that while a single memory 812 is described, awide variety of types and combinations of memory (e.g., tangible,non-transitory memory) may be employed. The memory 812 may be integralwith the one or more processors 810, may include stand-alone memory, ormay be a combination of both. Some examples of the memory 812 mayinclude removable and non-removable memory components, such asrandom-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory (e.g.,a secure digital (SD) memory card, a mini-SD memory card, and/or amicro-SD memory card), solid-state drive (SSD) memory, magnetic memory,optical memory, universal serial bus (USB) memory devices, hard diskmemory, external memory, and so forth.

The one or more controllers 808 may be configured to perform one or moreprocess steps, as defined by the one or more sets of programinstructions 814. The one or more process steps may be performediteratively, concurrently, and/or sequentially. The one or more sets ofprogram instructions 814 may be configured to operate via a controlalgorithm, a neural network (e.g., with states represented as nodes andhidden nodes and transitioning between them until an output is reachedvia branch metrics), a kernel-based classification method, a SupportVector Machine (SVM) approach, canonical-correlation analysis (CCA),factor analysis, flexible discriminant analysis (FDA), principalcomponent analysis (PCA), multidimensional scaling (MDS), principalcomponent regression (PCR), projection pursuit, data mining,prediction-making, exploratory data analysis, supervised learninganalysis, boolean logic (e.g., resulting in an output of a completetruth or complete false value), fuzzy logic (e.g., resulting in anoutput of one or more partial truth values instead of a complete truthor complete false value), or the like. For example, in the case of acontrol algorithm, the one or more sets of program instructions 814 maybe configured to operate via proportional control, feedback control,feedforward control, integral control, proportional-derivative (PD)control, proportional-integral (PI) control,proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control, or the like.

The one or more communication interfaces 816 may be operativelyconfigured to communicate with components of the one or more controllers808. For example, the one or more communication interfaces 816 may beconfigured to retrieve data from the one or more processors 810 or otherdevices, transmit data for storage in the memory 812, retrieve data fromstorage in the memory 812, and so forth. The one or more communicationinterfaces 816 may also be coupled (e.g., physically, electrically,and/or communicatively) with the one or more processors 810 tofacilitate data transfer between components of the one or morecontrollers 808 and the one or more processors 810. It should be notedthat while the one or more communication interfaces 816 is described asa component of the one or more controllers 808, one or more componentsof the one or more communication interfaces 816 may be implemented asexternal components coupled (e.g., physically, electrically, and/orcommunicatively) to the one or more controllers 808 via a wired and/orwireless connection. The one or more controllers 808 may also includeand/or connect to one or more input/output (I/O) devices. In someembodiments, the one or more communication interfaces 816 includes or iscoupled (e.g., physically, electrically, and/or communicatively) to atransmitter, receiver, transceiver, physical connection interface, orany combination thereof.

The one or more controllers 808 may be coupled (e.g., physically,electrically, and/or communicatively) to one or more user interfaces818. The one or more user interfaces 818 may include and/or beconfigured to interact with one or more display devices 820. The one ormore user interfaces 818 may include and/or be configured to interactwith one or more user input devices 822.

The one or more communication interfaces 816 may be operativelyconfigured to communicate with one or more user interfaces 818. The oneor more controllers 808 and the one or more user interfaces 818 may beseparate components (e.g., have separate housings and/or separatechassis). It is noted herein, however, that the one or more controllers808 and the one or more user interfaces 818 may be components integratedin a single housing and/or on a single chassis.

The one or more display devices 820 may include any display device knownin the art. For example, the one or more display devices 820 mayinclude, but are not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), alight-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light-emitting diode(OLED) based display, or the like. Those skilled in the art shouldrecognize that a variety of display devices 820 may be suitable forimplementation in the disclosure and the particular choice of displaydevice may depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limitedto, form factor, cost, and the like. In a general sense, any displaydevice capable of integration with the one or more user input devices822 (e.g., touchscreen, bezel mounted interface, keyboard, mouse,trackpad, and the like) is suitable for implementation in thedisclosure.

The one or more user input devices 822 may include any data input deviceknown in the art. For example, the one or more user input devices 822may include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a keypad, atouchscreen, a lever, a knob, a scroll wheel, a track ball, a switch, adial, a sliding bar, a scroll bar, a slide, a touch pad, a paddle, asteering wheel, a joystick, a button, a bezel input device or the like.In the case of a touchscreen interface, those skilled in the art shouldrecognize that a large number of touchscreen interfaces may be suitablefor implementation in the disclosure. For instance, a display device maybe integrated with a touchscreen interface, such as, but not limited to,a capacitive touchscreen, a resistive touchscreen, a surface acousticbased touchscreen, an infrared based touchscreen, or the like. In ageneral sense, any touchscreen interface capable of integration with thedisplay portion of a display device is suitable for implementation inthe disclosure.

The one or more controllers 808 may be configured to determine and/oroutput a set of data 824. For example, the set of data 824 may include acut angle for removing lumbercore from a stack of lumber. By way ofanother example, the set of data 824 may include outside blockdimensions (e.g., number of veneer sheets, width, and/or height) for astack of lumber from which the lumbercore may be removed. By way ofanother example, the set of data 824 may include a template to removethe lumbercore from the stack of lumber.

For example, the one or more controllers 808 may be configured todetermine and/or output the cut angle 408 to the user 804. The user 804may input the inside block width 404 and the inside block height 406 ofan inside block 402/lumbercore. By way of another example, the one ormore controllers 808 may be configured to output the template 500 to theuser 804. The user 804 may apply the template 500 to an outside block410/stack of lumber, where the outside block width 412 and the outsideblock height 414 of the outside block 410 may be determined by the oneor more controllers 808. It is noted herein the user 804 may input thedata defining a particular color, grain width, grain pattern, and/orveneer thickness of a reference sheet of veneer prior to thedetermination of the cut angle 408 by the one or more controllers 808.

By way of another example, the one or more controllers 808 may becoupled (e.g., physically, electrically, and/or communicatively) to afabrication tool 826. The one or more controllers 808 may be configuredto output the template 500 to the fabrication tool 826. For example, thefabrication tool 826 may include a vertical band saw, a sander, or otherfabrication tool capable of reducing the stack of lumber to the lumbercore based on the template 500. For instance, a user may use thefabrication tool 826 to cut the inside block 402/lumbercore from theoutside block 410/stack of lumber. In addition, the fabrication tool 826may be configured to automatically cut the inside block 402/lumbercorefrom the outside block 410/stack of lumber.

Although inventive concepts have been described with reference to theembodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, equivalents maybe employed and substitutions made herein without departing from thescope of the claims. Components illustrated and described herein aremerely examples of a system/device and components that may be used toimplement embodiments of the inventive concepts and may be replaced withother devices and components without departing from the scope of theclaims. Furthermore, any dimensions, degrees, and/or numerical rangesprovided herein are to be understood as non-limiting examples unlessotherwise specified in the claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for forming a lumbercore from a pluralityof sheets of veneer, the plurality of sheets of veneer producing anartificial grain pattern within the lumbercore, comprising: receiving aveneer grain width input, a veneer thickness input, a lumbercore widthinput and a lumbercore height input; forming a stack of lumber from theplurality of sheets of veneer comprising; sequencing the plurality ofsheets of veneer based on at least one of the veneer grain width input,the veneer thickness input, the lumbercore width input, or thelumbercore height input; and applying an adhesive between adjacentsheets of the plurality of sheets of veneer; generating at least one ofa physical template or a digital template, wherein the at least one ofthe physical template or the digital template maps the lumbercore to thestack of lumber, the at least one of the physical template or thedigital template being based on the lumbercore width input, thelumbercore height input, and the set of dimensions for the stack oflumber, the at least one of the physical template or the digitaltemplate including the cut angle; applying the at least one of thephysical template or the digital template to the stack of lumber, andcutting the lumbercore from the stack of lumber at the cut angleincluded in the at least one of the physical template or the digitaltemplate.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the veneer grain width ismaintained through sequential parallel cuts through the entirety of thelumbercore.
 3. The method of claim 1, the set of dimensions for thestack of lumber including a stack width, a stack height, and a number ofsheets of veneer for the plurality of sheets of veneer, the plurality ofsheets of veneer each having a select thickness.
 4. The method of claim3, further comprising obtaining a reference sheet of veneer, the selectthickness of a sheet of veneer within the plurality of sheets of veneerbeing approximately equal to a thickness of a veneer grain width withinthe reference sheet of veneer.
 5. The method of claim 3, the dimensionsof the lumbercore being defined within the set of dimensions of thestack of lumber, with the lumbercore width input being less than thestack width of the stack of lumber and the lumbercore height input beingless than the stack height of the stack of lumber.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, the adhesive comprising a clear epoxy resin.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, the forming the stack of lumber from the plurality of sheets ofveneer further comprising: firetreating the plurality of sheets ofveneer prior to applying the adhesive between the adjacent sheets of theplurality of sheets of veneer.
 8. The method of claim 1, the physicaltemplate being applied to an end surface of the stack of lumber.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, the physical template or the digital template furtherincluding an inside block representing the lumbercore, the inside blockrotated relative to horizontal an amount equal to the cut angle withinan outside block, the outside block representing the stack of lumber.10. The method of claim 9, the lumbercore including a portion of theplurality of sheets of veneer after the lumbercore is cut from the stackof lumber, the portion of the plurality of sheets of veneer being setrelative to horizontal at the cut angle through the end surface of thelumbercore.
 11. The method of claim 4, the reference sheet of veneer anda top surface of the lumbercore having at least one of a matching color,grain width, or grain pattern.
 12. The method of claim 11, the topsurface of the lumbercore including a plurality of edges of the portionof the plurality of sheets of veneer, at least one of the matchingcolor, grain width, or grain pattern being visible across the pluralityof edges of the plurality of sheets of veneer after the lumbercore iscut from the stack of lumber.